Trump says he ‘wouldn’t say it went well or badly’ when asked about phone call with Maduro

When asked aboard Air Force One whether he had spoken with Maduro, Trump declined to dive into the details but confirmed a call took place. Pressed further on the substance of the conversation, he declined to elaborate.

“I wouldn’t say it went well, or badly. It was a phone call,” the president said.

The discussion between the two leaders comes days after Trump announced that airspace around Venezuela should be considered closed. "To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” he posted on Truth Social.

Venezuela’s foreign ministry condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people.” Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto described the warning as a “colonialist threat.”

Relations between the US and Venezuela have remained strained as the Trump administration continues a strike campaign targeting naval vessels alleged to be carrying narcotics to the United States. The administration has vowed to intensify action against drug traffickers originating from Venezuela and has accused Maduro of involvement in the drug trade. The United States does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader following the disputed 2024 election. It has also offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest as he faces narcotrafficking charges in the US.

Earlier this month, the US military moved the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, into the Caribbean Sea. Trump has indicated that potential ground strikes could occur in the future.